2014 Downtown Brantford Annual Report

1. Agenda
Welcome and Introductions
 2014 Downtown Brantford BIA Annual Report &
2010-2014 Board Wrap Up
 2015 Proposed Budget & Levy
 2014 Marketing Report
 TDG Marketing Presentation
 General Discussion
 Election of 2015-2019 Board of Management
 Downtown Champion of the Year
 Reception

2. 37th Annual General Meeting
Thursday, November 27th, 2014
Thorpe Brothers Funeral Home –
Carriage House

3. 2014 Downtown Brantford BIA
Board of Management
David Prang - Chair
Darren McCormack – Vice Chair
Keri Korfmann - Treasurer
Tina Wolak - Secretary
Cathy Oden
Dwight Rose
Bill Keighley
Jacqui Huszczo
Elaine McCartney
Councillor Dave Neumann (Ward 5)
Councillor John Utley (Ward 2)
Annette Wawzonek - BIA Executive Director
Alternate: Larry Kings (Ward 1)
Ex-officio: Mayor Chris Friel
TDG Marketing– Marketing Consultant
Paisley MacKenzie – Ec. Development
Mark Gladysz – Planning/City Liaison
Jen Middleton - Community Events
Paula Thomlison - Public Library
Sgt. Randy Batson, BPS - BEAT UNIT
Tara Velanoff & Adam Lawrence -WLU

4. Vision Statement
To advocate for members of a thriving Downtown Brantford, as a
destination that typifies all that is excellent in an urban
environment; a safe, fun, and economically successful
community; with dense commercial, residential, and cultural
activity.

5. 2014 DBBIA Annual Report

6. 2014 Initiatives
•Boundary Expansion Completion
•Street Infrastructure, Parking, & Safety Advocacy
•Enhancement of Marketing Strategies
•Victoria Park Methadone Clinic Committee
•Colborne Street committee
•Membership Engagement & Surveys
•Special Event Ownership
•Municipal Business Licensing & Garbage Review
•Christmas Lights and seasonal banners
•Board Calendar, Marketing Calendar
•Investment Strategy & Policy
•Budget Format

7. 2014 Events in Harmony Square
15 Renewed one time, weekend, and weekly events
Plus:
Art in the Square
Post-secondary Orientation Week
As One Caribbean Festival

8. Communication Initiatives
Media Coverage:
•Brant Advocate (Feature Event Calendar);
•Founding Advertiser: B Scene;
•Brant News Profiles of Success;
•CBC Hamilton; Expositor;
KW Record; CHML 900; CBC Hamilton;
Toronto Star; Faith FM

9. Membership Engagement
PARKING!
Outreach for Facebook profiles
Member questions
Clearinghouse for concerns and questions
Anticipation, Preparation, and Communications
planning for Southside of Colborne Street Closure

10. Conferences & Workshops
•2014 Ontario Business Improvement Area
Association National Conference in Hamilton
•Chamber of Commerce – HR/Leadership
Seminar
•Chamber of Commerce Mayors’ Luncheon and
Community Address
•2014 City of Brantford Volunteer Recognition
Dinner and Event
•SmartCity Initiative
•SafeBrantford Steering Committee
•Mohawk College Enterprise Leadership
Certificate

11. Advocacy
•Streetscape Design Plan
•Methadone Clinics Dialogue
•Victoria Park Redevelopment
•Garbage Contract Review
•Business Licensing Task Force
•Clearinghouse for Concerns
•Admin Assistant

12. Advocacy Continued
•Colborne Street Committee
•Transportation Master Plan
•Master Servicing Plan for Water, Sanitary and Storm-water
Services
•OurCity2041 – Visioning Workshop Series (Official Plan
Review)
•Smart Cities Initiative (Knowledge & Innovation Sub-committees)
•Community Improvement Plan expansion support

13. 15
External Committees
with BIA voting or liaison membership

18. Major Accomplishments
DBBIA Board 2010-2014:
Membership Engagement
Marketing and Communications
Human Resources & Policy
Streetscape Design – Victoria Park, Banners, Lighting
35th Anniversary, 15th Anniversary Staff
Downtown Champion of the Year
Brantford’s Big Five

19. Brantford’s Big Five

20. Looking Ahead: 2015-2019
Communications
Infrastructure
Operations

21. Looking Ahead: 2015-2019
Communication Opportunities:
 Marketing and Communications Consultant
 Marketing Plan
 Communication with Customers and Businesses
 Website & Social Media
 Networking – “Downtown After Hours”

22. Looking Ahead: 2015-2019
Infrastructure Opportunities:
 Transportation Master Plan
 Transit Terminal redevelopment
 Laurier/YMCA Project
 Road Closures
 Parking – Strategy, Supply, and Management
 BSAR Impact

23. Looking Ahead: 2015-2019
Operational Opportunities:
 Strategic Plan
 Connecting with Expansion Area
 Human Resources planning
 Event Ownership development
 New Office
 Enhancing Institutional Relationships :Post-Secondary and
Casino, Municipal Council
 Policy and Process Review

24. 2015 Budget and Levy

25. Proposed 2015 Budget & Levy
Levy: Original Boundary $130,000 (no change from 2014)
Expansion Area $48,000 (2/3 of full levy as per
transition plan)
Budget:
Administration & Management Expenses $125,515
Marketing & Promotional Expenses 43,885
Event Sponsorship & Hosting 13,000
Beautification & Streetscape Expenses 6,600
Clean & Safe Expenses 1,500
Special Projects 10,000
Total Budget: $200,500

26. Marketing Report
Strong, diverse committee
Engaged new Marketing and Communications strategy – firm based
Downtown After Hours events
3500 Twitter Followers
1200 Facebook Followers
Thank you to Becca Vandekemp for enhancing Facebook Profiles of
businesses throughout this year
Multi-format ads and print
Thank you to Octopus Red and former Champion of the Year Lucas
Duguid

28. General Discussion
(10 Minutes max)

29. Election of the 2015-2019
Board of Management

30. 2014 Downtown Champion of
the Year
Criteria:
-Community Leadership
-Positive Influence
-BIA Engagement
-Stakeholder
2013 Champion:
Freedom House

31. 2014 Champion:

32. 540,000 Annual Visits
8000 new cardholders (2013)
21,000 visits for events &
programs
Volunteers
Skate & Costume Exchange
BCHU Breastfeeding Clinic
Paula Thomlison, Manager:
Marketing, Communications, &
Development
Kathryn Goodhue (CEO)

33. A Taste of Downtown
Thank you!
On the L

34. Thank You.